Safer injection

Protect Yourself from HIV and Hepatitis Infection: HIV and Hepatitis B & C can be transmitted from one infected person to another through shared needles and other injection equipment. SWAP provides services and information needed to help prevent harms that can result from injecting drugs, tattooing, piercing and other activities that can be risky. Some of the risks related to injecting drugs include hepatitis B and C, HIV, abscesses, endocarditis, dirty hits and cotton fever.

Safer injecting tips

Head and Neck

It is best not to inject anywhere on the head or neck! Because these areas are closest to the heart and brain, it’s easier to overdose, and abscesses are more dangerous.

Wrists

The insides of the wrists are full of nerves, veins and arteries all close together. Also not a good area for injecting.

Groin

The groin area is not a good place to inject. You could hit a major artery and lose your leg or die! It is also not a good idea to inject into the genitals themselves (that goes for both men and women).

Arms

If surface veins in arms are good, use them but rotate sites regularly.

Hands and Feet

The veins on the back of the hand and the top of the foot are fragile so inject slowly. It will hurt!

Legs

The blood flows slowly in leg veins, so inject slowly (be careful, there is an artery behind the knee). It is easier for blood clots to form in this area.